Safari Quick Facts

Leaving Maun we enter the Okavango Delta for 3 days (2 nights). The Okavango Delta is formed by the Okavango River, which flows into the desert and disappears as it fans out to form the delta. We camp in the bush at designated free camps and there are bush walks and trips in Mokoros. We take all our own equipment and food and bring it all back out (including the rubbish). The method of transport is by 4 wheel drive vehicle, motorboat and Mokoro (a dug out canoe). Mokoros are traditionally made of wood but as they come to the end of their serviceability fiberglass canoes are now replacing them. These are not quite as authentic but since traditional canoes are made from an entire tree, fiberglass alternatives are better for the local environment. The delta region is home to vast numbers of animals and it is possible to take some walks to try to see them. Walking in Africa is a completely different experience from game viewing by vehicle and this is a great opportunity to learn about this unique environment from your Botswana guides.

See day 3 for Itinerary

See day 3 for Itinerary

From the delta we travel to Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. At Chobe we experience an evening boat cruise, usually from 15.00pm until 18.00pm and a 3-hour game drive the following morning. Both the boat cruise and the game drive give us great game viewing opportunities in one of the largest and most prolific parks in southern Africa.
After the game drive we will enjoy a late breakfast and then depart for the 2-hour drive to Victoria Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders. We will arrive in Victoria Falls town in the early afternoon.

See day 6 for Itinerary

Known locally as ‘Mosi oa Tunya’ or ‘the smoke that thunders’, the falls are one of the world’s natural wonders. Although they are neither the world’s highest nor widest falls, they are an amazing spectacle as water cuts a dramatic gorge through the earth's crust and then crashes 111 metres to the river below. The Batoka Gorge forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is an excellent base for adventure and wildlife activities galore.
Here we have the option to enjoy an evening river cruise on the upper (above the falls) Zambezi River. This lasts about 3 hrs with drinks included. There are also a wide variety of other optional activities, the most famous being seasonal whitewater rafting on the lower Zambezi. This excursion takes a full day and has around 14 rapids, none below grade 4 (rapids are graded from 1 to 6). Please note that at certain times of the year the rafting may be restricted or even closed due to high water levels (March – May). Bungy jumping is also an option for all those who wish to throw themselves 111 metres head first off of a perfectly good bridge. Various flights are on offer including light fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, microlight and ultralight, all offering a wonderful viewing of the falls. Videos and still photographs are available for purchase of most activities, and are a great reminder of your adrenaline filled visit to the mighty Victoria Falls and Zambezi River. Depending on activities being done we may also spend a night on the Zambian side of the Falls. There is also is horse riding, elephant riding, lion and rhino encouters, canoeing, not to mention a walk in the Mosi oa Tunya National Park. The first night of the tour will be spent in Victoria Falls.
NB Please note that entrance (approximately 20 USD) to Mosi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls) National Park is not included in your tour price.

See day 8 for Itinerary

From Victoria Falls we drive across the south eastern part of Zambia, towards Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. This journey takes a couple of days and it a great opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and to sit back, relax and enjoy the ever changing African scenery.
Malawi is a small country in central southern Africa and is dominated by water and mountainous regions. More than 30% of the country’s landmass comprises of Lake Malawi - our base for the next few days.

See day 10 for Itinerary

On our trip through Malawi we visit a couple of small bays along the lakeshore. Snorkelling and diving are available or chose to swim or relax on the beaches. There is also ample time to visit local villages and craft markets which abound with woodcarvings, the most famous of these being large carved chairs. These chairs have proved very popular with our clients, however they tend to be less popular when it becomes time to send such a large object home!

See day 12 for Itinerary

See day 12 for Itinerary

See day 12 for Itinerary

From Malawi we cross southern Tanzania to Dar es Salaam, our gateway to Zanzibar. Our route takes us through the Iringa Highlands, Baobab Valley and Mikumi National Park. Whilst the park is not an excursion, since the road passes right through the centre of the park, we hope to be lucky enough to see numbers of giraffe, antelope and elephants. It is interesting to note these elephants are very small in stature, which may be a result of the effects of poaching on the population. Large individuals have been selectively hunted, leaving a smaller breeding herd.

See day 16 for Itinerary

Next our journey will bring us to the humid, exotic city of Dar es Salaam (translated from Swahili as “haven of peace”). Situated on the Indian Ocean, we will spend a night here before travelling on to Zanzibar.
We travel to Zanzibar by ferry from Dar es Salaam and this journey can take up to 3 or 4 hours. Conditions are usually smooth but beware the occasional day with rolling seas.
Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island, which comes from the many different spices that were grown there by the original Omani settlers. A lot of spices are still grown on the island and make up a large part of the economy of the island. The island does have a more sordid past in that it was once a major slave trading port; and it is still possible to visit the site of the old slave trading markets. The town centre still shows a lot of its Arabic origins in its architecture. It’s fascinating to walk around the labyrinth of old buildings and walled streets. For the beach lovers you can go out of the town and spend some relaxing time on the isolated beaches. There are spice tours that take in all manners of exotic fruits and spices and you can sample many of the tastes and smells first hand. Just off the coast of the old town is Prison Island, where there is a population of giant land tortoises who are happy to share their stretch of beach.
We generally spend 3 to 4 days on the island. We recommend that you budget around U$200-$300 for your stay on Zanzibar to cover food, transport around the island, optional tours, accommodation upgrades, drinks and souvenirs. Please note that this is a recommendation only as different passengers have widely differing spending patterns.

See day 18 for Itinerary

See day 18 for Itinerary

See day 18 for Itinerary

See day 18 for Itinerary

Leaving behind the sights and sounds of Zanzibar we drive to the town of Arusha, following the Usambara and Pare mountain ranges. Towards the end of our day of driving we will pass close to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest point at 5895 m. If were are lucky we may get a look at “Kili’s” snow capped peak. However, be warned, Kilimanjaro is regularly covered by cloud. Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. However, safaris have now taken over as the town’s biggest revenue earner. After spending a night in Arusha we transfer into smaller 4 wheel drive vehicles and head to Karutu and on to the Serengeti National Park. We will spend the afternoon on a game drive before heading to set up camp in the park for the night. The following day we will get up bright and early to continue through the park on an extensive game drive heading back towards the Ngorongoro Crater. We overnight at a camp on the rim of the Crater. We use smaller vehicles as the walls of the extinct volcano that form the crater are too steep to be negotiated by large vehicles. The following morning we descend onto the crater for an early morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a World Heritage Site and boasts a unique ecosystem. The crater itself reflects a mini Rift Valley. There is a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains and a forest area. There is a high concentration of wildlife here, including the big cats and a small population of black rhino. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater. After the game drive we journey back to Arusha.

See day 23 for Itinerary

See day 23 for Itinerary

See day 23 for Itinerary

See day 23 for Itinerary

See day 23 for Itinerary

From Arusha we leave Tanzania and enter Kenya for the final part of our journey before finishing our tour in the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. NO accommodation is included on Day 29